Display cabinet



SCP- 15, 1959 E. L. PRINCE 2,904,381

DISPLAY CABINET Filed April 5, 1957 INVENTOR.

5,4m L. Pm/vcs Q Bywe @e United States PatettfO DISPLAY CABINET Earl L. Prince, San Jose, Calif. Application April 5, 1957, Serial No. 650,998 3 claims. (cl. 3129-126) The present invention lrelates to display cabinets, and more particularly, to display cabinets for relatively small articles, such as the containers within which lipstick is packaged.

'Small articles such as the lipstick containers mentioned above cannot be readily displayed on counters in retail stores without the danger of damage or actual loss through careless-handling or intentional shoplifting. It will be noted that in any drug store, for example, a very large number of lipstick containers are displayed in one fashion or another together with numerous other small articles. However, the. displays are not optimumsince some protection against the aforementioned difficulties must be provided. v It is a general object ofthe present invention to provide a display cabinet that is particularly adapted .to provide ready visual accessibility to the articles therewithin while precluding undesired manual accessibility thereto so that the damage and losses mentioned hereinabove will be effectively eliminated. v y v More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to .FCC

With initial reference to Fig. 1, the` illustrated, preferred embodiment of the invention includes a case 10 that is of general box-like form. The top 11 and bottom 12 of the case 10 are composed of rectangularr sheets of transparent, plastic material while the sides 13, 14are also of transparent,` plastic material, but arevinv the form of paralellograms. A pluralityof shelves 15 are disposed withinithe case in parallelism to the top 11f'and bottom 12, andbecause of the paralellogramfstructure of the-sides 13, 14, are displaced in slightly stepped relation one from the other. Both the front and rear faces ofthe 'case 10 are left open, but `a door `16 is arranged tokswinginto closing position over the rear face of the case, being hinged as indicated at 17, to the rear of the top 11. Like vthe main body of the case 10, the shelves 15 and the Vdoor 16 are also preferably composed of sheets of clear-plastic material. Legs 18 support the rear of the case 10 in a slightly elevated position so that the shelves 15 slope downwardly toward the front of the unit.

Upon each shelf 15 is-received a drawer, generally indicated at 20 (only one being illustrated), also formedv of transparent plastic material. As shown, the drawer 20 includes a bottom 21, front and rear ends 22, 23, and two sides 24 and 25, rigidly attached in rectangular relationship. Additionally, within the drawer 20, a numberjof dividers 26 `are disposed tov project upwardly from fthe bottom 21 and form therebetween a plurality of troughs 27 which extend generally longitudinally of the drawer. yAs shown best in Figs. 2 and 3, these dividers 26 extend throughout a greater portion of the length of the drawer 20, but terminate somewhat yshort of the front and rear l thereof. Beyond the termination of the dividers,26,a

provide a display cabinet that includes a case, shelves,

drawers and a door, all composed of transparent material so that complete visual inspection of the articles contained in the cabinet is allowed. t

Another feature of the invention relates to the design of the `cabinet so that the .individual drawers therein are displaced in stepped relation with respect to one another so that the contents or a portion of the contents of each drawer is"available for immediate yvisual inspection.

Additionally, it is a feature to provide a display cabinet including a case having an open front from which the drawers may be extended a predetermined amount after a single locking means has been opened by the store attendant, Lsuch locking means being operable to enable the opening of all of the drawers.

" Another feature relates to the provision of stop means to preclude the complete withdrawal of 'a drawer through the open front of the case. l f

Still another'featureof the invention relates ltothe drawer structure itself which provides for the aligned vdisposition of the articles therein and also enables an individual article to be withdrawn from the drawer with facility.

These as rwell as other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a perusal of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a display cabinet constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention, one drawer being shown in a forwardly extended position and partially broken away to illustrate details thereof,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and illustrating the drawer in its normal closed and locked disposition within the case, and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of an individual drawer illustrating additional details of its construction.

number of openings 28 are formed in the bottom 21 of the drawer 20, as best illustrated in Fig. 3. Y Each opening 28 is of. generally semi-circular configuration and is `aligned with the trough` lying Ibetween two adjacent dividers 226; and the width of each opening is somewhat less than that of the article to be displayed, for example, a cylindrical lipstick.4 container (not shown)v positioned within the trough. Thus a portion of the container can enter such opening 28 so that the container may be pivoted upwardly from itsjnormal, substantiallyprone disposition within the trough whereby removaltherefrom is facilitated. v

The sides 24, 25 of the drawer20 are eachcut away-to form a shoulder, indicated at 29 in lFig. 2, at a point intermediate of the length of the drawer and to permit the front end 22 of the drawer to project above the cut-away sides, as indicated at 30. The shoulder 29 isarranged to engage a stop block 31 secured to the side 13 of the case 10 when the drawer 20 is moved forwardly from its normal position within the case', 4as shown inFig.l 2 to the extended position illustrated in Fig. l. VA second stop block 32 is also secured to the Iside 13 of the case `10, but ,adjacent theyrear thereof so that rwhenjthe drawer 2() is pulled through the rear face of the case 10 (after the door 16 has been swung to an open position) the upward projection 30 on the front end 22 of the drawer will contact this latter stop block 32. This latter stopping engagement will only occur if the drawer 20 is permitted to pivot downwardly into the position indicated in phantom lines in Fig. 2. -If the drawer 20, on the other hand, is moved along the plane of the shelf 15 directly, it may be withdrawn fully from the rear portion of the case 10.

As also shown clearly in Fig. 2, the stop blocks 31 which limit the forward motion o-f the drawers 20 through the open front of the case 10 are preferably displaced whereby the lowermost drawer 20 can be withdrawn almost entirely from the case while each superposed drawer 20 can be withdrawn a somewhat lesser amount.

Since the shelves 15 slope downwardly toward the front of the case 10, the rear end 23 of the drawer 20 3 Y is'A caused to `projectslig'htly'below the bottom Z1, as indicated at -35 irl-Pig. 2, and-this -downwardly projecting portion 35 is arranged to `engage the rear edge of the supporting shelf 15 so as to restrain the drawernormally vfrom sliding out the front ofthe case '10. VIn order to secure -the drawer 20 -in this position, 'as shown in 'full lines in Fig. v2, an opening 36isprovided in the vrearend 23 vof each drawer 20 for reception of -a pin 37- so attachcd tothe door 16 -as to enterfthe openingGand'preclude liftingof the rearend of the drawer 20 when fthe door 16 is moved 'to case-closing position, as-illustrated in Fig. 2. -While but -one drawer 20 and pin37 are illustrated in Fig. 2, it vwill be understood that a similar arrangement is provided for-each Iof the other drawers placed into the case 10. When the-door -16is thus closed, it `will be'seen that since 'the drawer 20 cannot 'be lifted, the rear-end .ZSthereof remains in contact with'the -shelf J15^so that the drawer may not slide forwardly. Furthermore, the Vdoor A16, itself, Vprevents rearward withdrawal Lof the drawer 20 from the case y10.

With continued reference to Fig. 2, means are illustrated `for llatching and also -locking the door 16 `in lits closed position, wherefore, ultimately, of course, the

ldrawers 20 are also locked within `the case 10. Preferably, as shown,'the door latch 40 constitutes a segmented `disc 41 that is mounted for 'rotation with a shaft 42 which extends between the supporting 'legs 18 in substantial parallelism to the lower edge of the door 16 when in its closed position. A quadrantal opening ,is formed in the'segmented disc 41 so that one face '41a thereof can be broughtagainst the door Y16 to maintain it in its-closed position 'by appropriate rotation of the shaft 42. Such rotation 'of the shaft 42 can be accomplished by manual turning of a knob 43 secured at the end of the shaft and projecting `from the one leg 18, as shown in AFig. 1. The latch 40 is maintained in its doorclosing position vby means of a simple, bolt-type lock, generally indicated at 45, which is mounted on the leg V18 so that the movable bolt 46 thereofcan beprojected into engagement with the other face 41b of the quadrantal opening in the disc 41. When thus projected into locking position, it will be seen that'the disc 41 can be turned in neither direction. To provide for actuation ofthe bolt-type lock 45, a key receptacle 47v ,is formed on the leg 18 adjacent the latch-rotating knob 43 for ready insertion of the key (not shown) thereinto. By the described arrangement, lit -will be seen that after :all ,the drawers 20 have been positioned withinthe case` 10, .they may be secured therein quickly `and easily by the mere rotation-of the knob 43 vto latch the door 16 in its closed position and subsequent yactuation Aof the simple lock 45 by the appropriate key.

When the lcase `10 is in its locked position, since it, as well as the drawers 20 therein, are formed of transparent plastic, the articles contained are visible to a prospective purchaser. If it is desired thataparticular article is to be purchased, the'store attendant need merely unlock the lock 45, 'turn the'knob 43,'and then open the door 16 and ythen permit that particular drawer :'20 to be slid forwardly through the open front of the case 10. The purchaser rthen may quickly Yremove the `particular article which he is interested in purchasing from that drawer, such removal being facilitated by the ability to pivot the article within the drawer by pressing the forward end of the article into the previously described opening 28 in the drawer bottom 21. After the removal has been effected by the purchaser, the store attendant may merely withdraw the drawer 20 back into the case 10 and by reversing the described procedure, lock the same into position for visual inspection of the articles by subsequent purchasers, but without undesired handling thereof.

Various alterations and or modifications can obviously be made in the described structure without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will be understood that the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment is not to be considered as limiting, but purely in an exemplary fashion; and the actual scope of the invention is to be'indicated by the appended claims.

What isclaimed is:

1. An article display cabinet which comprises a case having open front and rear faces and a plurality of shelves therein, a plurality of drawers supported respectively on said shelves for sliding movement forwardly and rearwardly from said case, a door hinged for swinging movementinto closing position over the rear face o'f said case, and means cooperatively arranged on saiddoor and said drawers to hold the latter against lforward and rearward sliding movement -within fsaid case-when said door islswun'ginto-closing position.

2. An article display cabinet according to claim l which comprises means for locking said doorinits faceclosing position.

3. An 'article display cabinet which comprises a case having open front and rear faces and a plurality of parallel `shelves therein, a plurality of drawers mounted for sliding movement on said shelves, each drawer having a rear portion projecting downwardly beside the rear edge of its mounting -shelf when Aappropriately positioned thereon and also having a small opening therein, a door hinged on said case for movement into closing-position over the rear face of said case, said door having a plurality of locking pins thereonarranged to enter the openings in said -drawerswhen moving to its closing position.

References Cited in the `tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 242,657 Kohn June 7, 1881 425,323 Hornal Apr. 8, 1890 704,404 Thorne l. July 8, 1902 893,983 Chilstrom July 21, 1908 927,625 Woldridge July 13, 1909 957,461 ,Forchheimer May 10, 1910 1,375,650 Barnard Apr. 19, 1921 1,414,505 Ede May 2, 1922 2,758,193 Mantofel Aug. 7, 1956 2,769,551 Just Nov. 6, 1956 

